Bullring is a premier shopping centre in central Birmingham, United Kingdom. Known to be a shopper’s and foodie’s paradise, the Bullring houses over 200 premium fashion brands and some remarkable restaurants.
It’s connected to the Grand Central shopping centre via Link Street, luring the locals and tourists with everything from homewares to haute couture!
Let’s find out more about this iconic shopping centre.
| Further Reading: Discover exciting facts about the official mascot of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games: Perry the Bull! Keen to immerse yourself in a theatrical experience? The Birmingham Hippodrome is where you should head to. |
This Article Contains
- Bullring Contact Details
- The Fascinating History of Bullring
- The Major Redevelopment of Bullring Shopping Centre
- What is Bullring Famous For?
- What Kind of Parking Facilities Does Bullring Have?
- Getting To Bullring
- Other Interesting Facts About Bullring
Bullring Contact Details
Address: Bullring & Grand Central, Moor Street, Birmingham, B5 4BU, West Midland, United Kingdom
Phone number: +44 121 632 1526
The Fascinating History of Bullring
Bullring has been an integral part of central Birmingham since the 12th century.
Back then, referred to as Bull Ring, the area had a flourishing textile business. Consequently, the street came to be known as Mercer Street. Later, Mercer street was renamed Spiceal Street after the growing grocery and meat trade. Some centuries later, the Australian grocery chain Woolworths was set up on Spiceal Street.
Meanwhile, other markets emerged on the nearby High Street. Soon, the Bull Ring became a major commercial market for the rapidly developing Birmingham city.
In the late 1800s, street commissioners started expanding the open market area of the Bull Ring. The space in front of St Martins Church became a part of the Bull Ring.
During the second world war, parts of the Birmingham Bull Ring centre were destroyed, including the New Street nearby.
The 21st century archaeological excavations discovered findings from the Middle Ages. Burial sites had also been found on the grounds of St Martins Church.
You can refer to the four information panels containing historical details in the Bullring centre at St Martin Square, Edgbaston Street, Park Street, and High Street.
The Major Redevelopment of Bullring Shopping Centre
The first plan for redevelopment of the Bull Ring centre was proposed in 1955.
The Birmingham City Council chose the proposal made by John Laing & Sons. and the construction of the new Birmingham Bull Ring Centre commenced in 1961.
The building was a magnificent blend of traditional open market stalls and a new indoor shopping centre.
However, there were problems with the archaic architecture of the Bull Ring Shopping Centre, which gave way to frequently malfunctioning escalators. Additionally, the high rent made it difficult for traders to set up their stores.
In 2000, a new redevelopment plan was proposed to reinforce the 1960s Bull Ring Shopping Centre. The construction work was supervised by the main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine.
On 4th September 2003, the new shopping centre, rebranded as Bullring, was opened to the public.
Bullring was developed by the Birmingham Alliance and primarily designed by the international Design Studio, Benoy. It comprises two main buildings (East and West Mall) connected by an underground passage lined with shops.
The open space (in front of the East and West Mall) facing the High Street and New Street is called the Rotunda Square.
What is Bullring Famous For?
You can shop for luxury fashion brands and explore gourmet food, all under one roof in Bullring & Grand Central. No wonder it’s one of the most popular weekend destinations in Birmingham city centre for both city dwellers and visitors!
Visit these luxury department stores and high street brands for some good old retail therapy in the city centre:
- Selfridges, Debenhams: Check out the latest designer collections and gifts for your loved ones.
- Michael Kors, Lacoste, Mango: Shop for trendy apparel, handbags, and footwear.
- Paperchase, Nepresso Boutique, The White Company: Explore home appliances, gift sets, and contemporary furniture.
- The Body Shop, MAC, KIKO Milano: Find the perfect make-up and gorgeous accessories to look and feel your best.
Starving after an eventful day of shopping?
Check out these popular restaurants and cafes inside Bullring Birmingham shopping centre:
- Browns Bar & Brasserie: Drop by this fine dining restaurant serving lobsters and afternoon tea.
- Chaophraya Thai Restaurant: Dig into some flavorful Thai cuisines.
- Kouzina: Savour traditional Greek recipes.
- Vietnamese Street Kitchen: Enjoy homestyle Vietnamese dishes and delicious cocktails.
- Nando’s, Five Guys, Burger King: Visit these famous food chains to enjoy lip-smacking fast food.
What Kind of Parking Facilities Does Bullring Have?
The Birmingham Bullring car park area has 1,015 spaces, including 28 designated parking spaces for the disabled and 19 spaces exclusively for families. You’ll also find facilities for electric vehicle charging within the premises.
Visitors can access Bullring car park areas with entrances on Smallbrook Queensway and Park Street.
Bullring & Grand Central has also introduced the Drive Thru Parking service to make parking hassle-free.
You can register for free with your debit or credit card. On your next visit, the barrier to the parking areas will be lifted automatically when you drive up to the entry or exit point of the shopping centre, Moor Street, or Edgbaston Street car park.
Getting To Bullring
Here are the different ways you can reach this major shopping centre from anywhere around Birmingham city centre:
1. By Train
There are frequent rail services from the Birmingham New Street station and Birmingham Moor Street station to reach the Bullring shopping centre.
2. By Bus
You can easily access Bullring by bus if you’re in Birmingham city. Opt for any of these bus routes passing near Birmingham Bullring: 13A, 23, 4, 47, 61, 67, 94, X14, X2.
Here are the main bus stations near Bullring:
- Moor Street Station (Stop Ms3) (4 min walk)
- New Street Station (Stop Ns1) (4 min walk)
Bullring & Grand Central also offers Accessibility Guides, including facts, figures, and photographs to help you plan your visit.
Other Interesting Facts About Bullring
Here are some more amazing facts about the Bullring shopping centre:
1. Why is the Bullring Called the Bullring?
During the Middle Ages, the area of Bull Ring market was known as Corn Cheaping and used as a corn market.
The grassy portion of Corn Cheaping served as a bull-baiting arena. There was an iron ‘ring’ setup, and the bulls were tied to the hoop before being baited and eventually slaughtered.
That’s where the name Bullring comes from.
2. What Kinds of Artwork are Found Inside the Bullring?
You can find these extraordinary pieces of artwork inside the Bullring Birmingham shopping centre:
- A 1,290 sq ft glass mural by artist Martin Donlin.
- Three light wands of different heights in Rotunda square.
- A 7 ft 3 inches tall bronze sculpture of a running, turning bull, the Bullring Bull, created by Laurence Broderick. The Bullring Bull has increasingly become the favourite selfie corner for most visitors.
- A bronze statue of Horatio Nelson by the sculptor Richard Westmacott.
3. What are the Other Attractions Near Bullring?
Here are some popular tourist attractions near Bullring and Birmingham city centre:
- Tilt Birmingham (0.12 miles away)
- Graffiti Art of Digbeth Walk (0.12 miles away)
- BOM (Birmingham Open Media) (0.15 miles away)
- Birmingham Hippodrome (0.4 miles away)
- Reuben Colley Fine Art (1.7 miles away)
- Birmingham Cathedral Square (1.8 miles away)
- Station Street (1.8 miles away)
Fun Fact: Besides this major shopping centre in Birmingham city, you can explore various other artistic venues in the West Midland region.
These include Walsall’s New Art Gallery, the Ruskin Glass Centre, Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery, and much more. In fact, the West Midlands Growth Company plays an important role in promoting and highlighting these prime tourist attractions.
The West Midlands Growth Company targets tourists through personalised ads created by their advertising partners.